Yes....the dragon eye pillow is back. I can no longer procrastinate. This beast must be completed and shipped by Tuesday. So, how do I get myself thru it? Today, I first spend about 30 minutes procrastinating making multiple posts of different platforms discussing the situation. Haha But, now, after this post, I must ACTUALLY begin. How will I do it? The dreaded repetitive, sleep inducing rhythm of back and forth, (sc, dc), sk next stitch repeat? Im challenging myself! I have approximately 12 rows left of the first 18x18 panel and then an entire 18x18 multi color panel to complete afterwards. The challenge, complete the firstb12 rows in the next hour. Let's see if I can do it. Music is going on and hook is in hand. While we wait, tell me what you do to muddle thru the mundane crochet tasks you dislike.

One of my primary focuses within my business is creating multiuse sensory and fidget toys. As I develop that skill, I havent vlbeen so much focused on CUTE, so much as functionality. The first picture is the 1st rouge design I made. She is super simple, fits in one hand, has bead play, multi textured hair, Google eyes and is weighted. The second picture is one i was inspired to make yesterday. Again, he's not so pretty and he is in development stage. He is weighted, has faux fur hair, bead play mouth and jingle head. He will get more tentacles in different yarns and crinkle ears. As I start writing new patterns of cute puppies and the like, I will begin to incorporate more sensory play, but these are unwritten mindless fun at making things for sensory play. What have you made that was part of your unique vision starting to blossom, but not exactly full of beauty?

The Mindful Makers community is our supportive Lifeline Stitch. Tag another member (or simply share a post) who has recently inspired you, given you helpful advice, or simply made you smile. How has their presence enriched your experience this week? I want to recognize some of the members of our community that inspire and support me daily. @Jenna Kelly has her own amazing community called The Crochet Cottage with lots of fun and uplifting topics @Bente Grytøyr r has a beatuiful community called Gentle Way - Mindful & Creative full of grounding, gratitude and self care creative. @Caroline Fransz also has an extremely supportive community called The Crochet Circle where you can find a handful of beautiful Christmas crochet and inspiration in her Six Weeks of Stitchmas Not only have they been a tremendous inspiration within their communities and here, they each have also given amazing support behind the scenes.

Hot corn is on, green beans prepped, pies are done, hubs has 🦃 duty, so I'm going to crochet for a bit before i have to start on the other sides. How do you spend the down time between food making? Are you hosting this year?

One of the biggest why's in my life for crochet is mental health. I didn't know the salvation it would provide for me when I learned how to crochet. It was just a fun way to pass the time with my great grandma that summer. After I had my first child and mental health struggles began to appear for her, I taught her how to crochet. Thru the years she would turn to it from time to time. As an adult she has found it to be a big release of negative energy, sense of purpose and a source of pride. As my younger two are getting older, crochet is a form of calm for them. Yesterday and today were hard mental health days. Days in which the hook can't cure. Yesterday, I spent the morning calling around Camden County NJ to find resources for my mother's mental health and today I spent majority of the afternoon calling around our county looking for resources for my daughter's mental health. I found a common trend....assistance for adults, especially adults that struggle to face their problems, is nearly impossible. It's a sad situation. If you don't have the right diagnoses, correct insurance or a screener that catches on to your deceptions, you wont get the help needed ... so many obstacles in the way. I am saddened, disheartened... We still haven't found either of them a bed...and for my mother, who is not in her right mind, they left finding further assistance up to her. It's so trivial. Tonight I say a prayer that non of you ever face this obstacle and for those that do, I pray you find the resources to guide you in the direction of actual assistance.